‘Quiet’ Santas welcome kids with autism across the country

Mall Santas across the country are offing quiet hours geared to kids with autism. (Getty)

Sitting on Santa’s lap at the mall can be an overwhelming experience. The line of screaming kids and stressed out parents. The holiday tunes blaring throughout the mall sound system. The twinkling lights. A group of carolers. And then there’s the big man in the red suit himself.

Many kids with autism or other disabilities and special sensitivities never get the chance to tell the bearded man what they want for Christmas in person because the experience is sensory overload.

Parents of these children have spoken out and now many shopping malls across America have adopted the Caring Santa program geared to children with autism and special sensitivities. The lights are dimmed, the music is turned off. Often these events, hosting what are called Quiet Santas or Silent Santas, are held before the mall opens.

This weekend, Stanford Shopping Mall in Palo Alto, Calif., is hosting a Caring Santa event. From 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, while the mall is closed, the holiday lights, music and the water fountains will all be turned off. A special queuing system will allow families to take a number rather than wait in line and kids will be read stories to help them understand what’s going to happen when they sit on Kris Kringle’s knee. (Those interested in attending should RSVP.)

Autism experts think the Caring Santa program is a big win for children on the spectrum. “There’s no reason why ASD [autism spectrum disorder] children shouldn’t be able to have the same opportunities as other kids, and this gives them the chance to participate in a holiday custom,” Dr. Max Wiznitzer, a neurologist specializing in autism at University Hospitals’ Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, told ABC News. “If you remove the excessive sensory input for the children, their behavior will be better, they will get more out of it and it’s a win-win.”

About 1 in 88 children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 in 6 children in the U.S. has a developmental disability, ranging from mild disabilities such as speech and language impairments to serious developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and autism. Increased awareness around children with special needs has led popular family locations, ranging from movie theaters to theme parks, to offer special events when the sensory environment is toned down, according to ABC.